Let’s Make Up! How to Look Good in Your Video Presentations
Let’s Make Up on Video!
How to Look Good in Your Video Presentations
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Image Credit: Prentiss Te Rito |
In my experience, it is important to wear makeup if you want to look your best when filming your video presentations. Yes, that includes you men too. Take my word for it that every Hollywood tough guy you see on screen is wearing makeup!
Careful makeup application is critical, not just to make you look more attractive, but more importantly, to correct the distortions caused by the camera lens and lighting. The camera sees things differently to the human eye. High definition (HD) cameras can accentuate wrinkles, magnify flaws, affect skin color and tone, and make you look heavier than you actually are. Ouch!
Face Facts
We are genetically programed to study faces. Like it or not, your face and smile provide the basis for the first impressions your viewer will have of you. Your face is where your viewers’ eyes will be focused for the majority of time you are on screen, so it is important to make sure your face looks as good as possible in a close up shot and knowing you most photogenic angle can help also.
Even the best looking models, news anchors, and presenters (both male and female) always wear makeup on camera – and wouldn’t dream of stepping into frame, without it! Just as in normal everyday life, makeup is used to accentuate your natural features, as well as cover up any blemishes.
Be aware that the camera “gobbles up makeup” so you will need to apply a little more than you would normally use in daily life.
Although their requirements are not the same as women, most men need a bit of powder to look their best on video. Bald guys especially need to apply powder all over, to avoid light/s from reflecting or bouncing-off from their heads, which can be visually distracting to the viewer.
Powder Up!
You want your performance to shine – not your face
Even if we are not sweating, the oil from our pores produces a shine on camera. A small amount of powder is required to reduce this sheen. Beware that foundations with SPF or light-reflective properties can make your skin look wax-like or worse cadaver-like under the lights.
You want your performance to shine – not your face. Unfortunately, many leaders have learned to their regret that if their faces are visibly perspiring on camera, they lose credibility and give the appearance of not telling the truth. Of course, it could be the lights and their nervousness making them hot, but that’s not the impression their viewers get. You want your performance to shine – not your face (check out this sweaty interview of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg).
I recently toured the CNN studios in Atlanta, and it was revealing and refreshing to see the news anchors pulling out their handbags and re-applying their own powder and touching up their hair and make-up during the commercial breaks – without the aid of a makeup artist or stylist!
Tone
Camera lighting tends to wash out your skin tone, so makeup is required to bring your skin back to life.
Some colors do not come across well on camera. Women need to avoid dark reds and maroon-colored eye shadows, lip gloss and blush, because the camera has a tendency to accentuate the blue pigment in these colors, and they can appear purple (or vampire-ish) on camera.
Warm colors are best for video makeup
A General Rule of Thumb:
- Warm colors are best for video makeup
- Opt for matte, neutral hues
- Choose a classic makeup application style (less likely to date) that defines your eyes and mouth (the most expressive parts of the face) to help them stand out on screen
- Avoid high-shine, light-attracting elements often found in blushers, lip glosses or eye shadows
- Avoid cooler colors; as your lighting set-up may accentuate or exaggerate these colors on camera
I personally use the M-A-C brand (and have done so for past 10 years, without complaint). The brand is known for its camera-friendly qualities and is commonly used by makeup artists on film sets, and by TV anchors and reporters.
If you want to know the more specific technical details about makeup application see my article: Look Good on Video. Make Up Techniques for Men and Women.
I’d love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below, what your biggest challenges are when it comes to presenting on camera – or with creating your own Video Presentations? If this is all new for you, tell me what you found most helpful with this article and how you will implement it in your next video?
Remember, you can always suggest a topic or ask a question (below) and the TakeTwo Team will endevour to answer it in future “TakeTwo Video Presentation Coaching” episodes. If you enjoyed this content remember to sign-up to receive our email updates.
Always listening and cheering you on with your online video presentations!
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+Bianca Te Rito
